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Cayman Islands emergency traffic exempt from third-party traffic rules
Because of changes to the international Radio Regulations at World Administrative Conference 2003,
the FCC will not enforce third-party traffic rules contained in 97.115 of the FCC Amateur Radio Service
rules for the passage of emergency and health-and-welfare traffic. The FCC continues to evaluate
necessary revisions to the wording of Part 97 to reflect the WARC-03 changes, but Commission staff
has assured ARRL that it will not sanction amateurs passing appropriate emergency-related traffic with
stations in the Cayman Islands, with which the US has no third-party traffic agreement.
QCWA-suffix call sign to mark convention special event
Industry Canada has authorized Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) National Capital Chapter 70 to use
the special event call sign VE3QCWA from September 17 until October 17 in recognition of the QCWA International
Convention October 15-17 in Ottawa, National Capital Chapter 70 is hosting the event, which is open to all radio
amateurs. QSLs for VE3QCWA go to Jim Dean, VE3IQ.
FCC Spectrum Policy Task Force Announces Internet Database to Track Commission Spectrum Proceedings
Washington, D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission's Spectrum Policy Task Force (SPTF) has
launched a new Internet tracking tool to access information on FCC spectrum-related proceedings. The Internet
tracking tool is part of the Task Force's efforts to improve access to information on the Commission's ongoing
spectrum-related proceedings and initiatives. The listing is intended to provide the public, industry researchers
and other interested parties one place on the FCC's website where these proceedings and initiatives are listed,
with one- or two-click access to public comments, Commission documents and other related materials. To access the
tracking tool, go to the link on the Task Force's homepage at
http://www.fcc.gov/spft/ and click on the "Proceedings
& Initiatives" hyperlink. Currently, 30 ongoing proceedings are listed.
FCC Still Enforcing Part 15 Rules in Some Amateur Interference Cases
While the ARRL has accused the FCC of sweeping under the rug several Amateur Radio complaints of
interference from unlicensed broadband over power line (BPL) devices, the Commission apparently is not ignoring other
Part 15-related interference complaints -- some now longstanding -- of power-line noise interference to Amateur
Radio communication. Other cases of Part 15 device interference to radio amateurs have been a bit more exotic.
For example two recent citations issued by the Portland, Oregon, FCC field office involved interference from
wireless microphones operating in the 70-cm band.
New Orbital Debris Mitigation Rules Will Apply to Amateur Radio Satellites
New FCC Amateur Radio space station rules will impose requirements to mitigate orbital debris. The FCC
adopted a Second Report and Order (R&O) in IB Docket 02-54 on June 9. The new rules, appearing
September 9 in the Federal Register, affect Parts 5 (Experimental Service), 25 (Satellite Communications)
and 97 (Amateur Service) of the FCC's rules and regulations. In general, they require submission of an
"orbital debris mitigation plan" to the FCC with each license application. AMSAT-NA -- the Radio Amateur
Satellite Corporation -- had wanted Amateur Radio exempted from orbital debris mitigation rules more
detailed than those the FCC had proposed in 2002 for Part 97. AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH,
said the organization is discussing the implications of the R&O but has no formal position yet.
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